Hunger Games - District 0

**Chapter 5: The Spark**

The safe house was alive with activity when Kael and Lira returned. Garrick was barking orders, his voice sharp and urgent, while the others scrambled to prepare for what was coming. The air was thick with tension, the weight of their discovery pressing down on everyone.

Kael and Lira slipped inside, their breaths still ragged from the run. Garrick turned to them, his expression a mix of relief and frustration. "What took you so long?" he demanded.

"We ran into trouble," Kael said, his voice tight. "But we found something. Something big."

Garrick's eyes narrowed. "What?"

Kael handed him the files they'd taken from the facility, his hands trembling slightly. "Project Rebirth. The Capitol is creating soldiers—enhanced soldiers. They're using people from District 0."

Garrick's face paled as he flipped through the files, his hands clenching into fists. "This changes everything," he muttered. "If the Capitol is building an army, we don't stand a chance."

"We have to stop them," Lira said, her voice firm. "We can't let them do this."

Garrick sighed and ran a hand through his graying hair. "And how do you propose we do that? We're barely surviving as it is. We don't have the resources to take on the Capitol."

"We don't have a choice," Kael said, his voice rising. "If we don't stop them, they'll destroy us. They'll destroy everything."

Garrick stared at him for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then he nodded. "Alright. We'll discuss this later. For now, we need to focus on staying alive. The Peacekeepers will be looking for you."

Kael nodded, though his mind was still racing. He couldn't shake the image of the girl—her glowing eyes, her silent plea for help. He had promised to come back for her, and he intended to keep that promise. But first, they needed a plan.

---

The next few hours were a blur. Garrick and the others debated their next move, their voices growing louder and more heated with each passing minute. Kael sat in the corner, his thoughts far away. He barely noticed when Lira sat down beside him, her shoulder brushing against his.

"You okay?" she asked, her voice soft.

Kael shook his head. "No. Not really."

Lira sighed and leaned back against the wall. "I know this is a lot. But we'll figure it out. We always do."

"Will we?" Kael asked, his voice bitter. "Because it feels like we're fighting a losing battle."

Lira didn't respond. She just sat there, her presence a quiet comfort. Kael closed his eyes, trying to clear his mind, but the image of the girl kept coming back. Her glowing eyes, her silent plea. He couldn't leave her there. He couldn't.

---

The meeting dragged on late into the night, but no one could agree on what to do. Some wanted to attack the facility head-on, while others argued for a more cautious approach. Garrick listened to everyone, his expression grim, but he didn't offer any solutions of his own.

Finally, Kael couldn't take it anymore. He stood up, his chair scraping against the floor, and the room fell silent. "We're wasting time," he said, his voice sharp. "Every minute we spend arguing is another minute the Capitol has to prepare. We need to act. Now."

Garrick raised an eyebrow. "And what do you suggest we do?"

Kael hesitated, his mind racing. He didn't have all the answers, but he knew one thing for sure: they couldn't do nothing. "We need to gather more information," he said finally. "We need to know what we're up against. And we need to find a way to stop them."

Garrick nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. "Alright. We'll send a team back to the facility. But this time, we do it my way. No more reckless stunts."

Kael nodded, though his stomach churned at the thought of going back. He didn't know if he could face the girl again, but he knew he had to try.

---

The team was small—just Kael, Lira, and two others, a man named Jax and a woman named Mira. They moved through the streets of District 0 under the cover of darkness, their footsteps silent against the cracked pavement. The facility loomed ahead, its walls towering over them like a fortress.

Kael's heart pounded as they approached the gap in the wall. He glanced at Lira, who gave him a small nod. They slipped through the gap and into the facility, their movements quick and precise.

The facility was eerily quiet, the only sound the faint hum of fluorescent lights overhead. Kael led the way, his knife at the ready. They moved quickly, staying low to avoid the cameras. The room with the security footage was their first stop.

The door was still ajar, just as Kael had left it. He slipped inside, the others close behind. The screens were dark, the room silent. Kael moved to the control panel and began flipping through the feeds, his eyes scanning the screens for any sign of the girl.

"What are we looking for?" Jax asked, his voice low.

"A girl," Kael said, his voice tight. "She's… different. She might be able to help us."

Jax raised an eyebrow but didn't argue. They watched the screens in silence, their eyes darting from one feed to the next. Finally, Kael spotted her. She was in the circular room, sitting in the chair, her glowing eyes fixed on the door.

"There," Kael said, pointing to the screen. "That's her."

Lira frowned. "She looks… strange."

"She is," Kael said. "But she's the key to all of this. We need to get to her."

They moved quickly, following the path Kael had taken before. The facility was a maze, but Kael's memory was sharp, and they reached the circular room without incident.

The girl was still sitting in the chair, her expression calm but her eyes filled with urgency. She stood as they entered, her movements slow and deliberate.

"Who is she?" Mira asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I don't know," Kael admitted. "But she's from District 0. And she's been… changed."

The girl walked over to one of the screens and touched the panel. The screens flickered to life, showing images of the Capitol, of District 0, of people being rounded up and taken away. Kael's breath caught in his throat as he realized what she was showing them.

The Capitol's plan.

The images shifted, showing blueprints and diagrams. Kael's eyes widened as he recognized the facility they were in. It wasn't just a research lab—it was a factory. A factory for creating something… or someone.

"Project Rebirth," Kael muttered, his voice trembling. "They're creating soldiers."

The girl nodded, her expression solemn. She reached up again, touching the panel. The screens changed, showing a map of Panem. Red dots marked different locations—District 0, the Capitol, and several others Kael didn't recognize.

"What are you trying to tell us?" Kael asked, his frustration growing. "Who are you?"

The girl stood and walked over to one of the screens. She pointed to a red dot—District 0. Then she pointed to herself.

Kael's heart sank as he realized what she was saying. "You're from District 0."

She nodded.

"And they… they did this to you?"

Another nod.

Kael's hands clenched into fists, his nails digging into his palms. The Capitol had taken everything from him—his family, his home, his future. And now they were doing this. Turning people into weapons. Turning his people into monsters.

"We have to stop them," Kael said, his voice firm. "We have to destroy this place."

The girl shook her head, her expression sad. She pointed to the screens, to the red dots scattered across the map.

"There are more," Kael realized. "More facilities. More… experiments."

The girl nodded.

Kael's mind raced. This wasn't just about District 0 anymore. This was bigger than any of them. If the Capitol was creating an army of soldiers, no one was safe.

"We need to get out of here," Kael said, turning to the girl. "We need to warn the others."

The girl hesitated, then nodded. She reached up and touched the panel one last time. The screens went dark, and the room was plunged into silence.

Kael turned to leave, but the girl grabbed his arm. Her grip was surprisingly strong, her glowing eyes filled with urgency.

"What is it?" Kael asked.

The girl pointed to the door, then to herself. She shook her head.

"You can't leave," Kael realized.

She nodded, her expression resigned.

Kael's heart ached for her. She was a prisoner, just like everyone else in District 0. But she was also the key to stopping the Capitol. He couldn't leave her behind.

"I'll come back for you," Kael promised. "I'll find a way to get you out."

The girl's eyes softened, and for the first time, she smiled. It was small and sad, but it was enough.

Kael turned and left the room, his mind racing. He needed to find Lira and get out of here. But he also needed to figure out how to stop the Capitol. And he needed to do it fast.

---

The facility was a maze, and Kael was quickly losing track of where he was. He moved through the corridors as quickly as he dared, his knife at the ready. Every sound made him jump, every shadow made him second-guess himself. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched.

Finally, he found Lira. She was crouched in a corner, her slingshot in hand, her eyes scanning the hallway. She looked up as he approached, her expression a mix of relief and frustration.

"Where have you been?" she hissed. "I've been looking everywhere for you."

"I found something," Kael said, his voice low. "Something big."

Lira's eyes narrowed. "What?"

Kael hesitated, unsure of how to explain. "There's a girl. She's… different. And there's a project. Project Rebirth. They're creating soldiers, Lira. They're turning people into weapons."

Lira's eyes widened. "What are you talking about?"

"I don't have time to explain," Kael said. "We need to get out of here. Now."

Lira nodded, though she still looked confused. "Alright. Let's go."

They moved quickly, retracing their steps through the facility. Kael's heart pounded with every step, his mind racing with thoughts of the girl, the screens, the map. They needed to warn the others. They needed to stop the Capitol.

But first, they needed to survive.

---

The exit was just ahead. Kael could see the gap in the wall, the faint light of the moon shining through. He quickened his pace, Lira close behind him. They were almost there. Almost free.

A sound behind them made them both freeze. Kael turned, his knife raised, just as a Peacekeeper stepped into view. The man's helmet obscured his face, but Kael could feel his eyes on them.

"Run," Kael whispered.

They didn't need to be told twice. They sprinted for the exit, the Peacekeeper's footsteps echoing behind them. Kael's heart pounded in his chest, his breath coming in short gasps. They were so close.

They burst through the gap and into the night air, the cool breeze a welcome relief. But the Peacekeeper was still behind them, his shouts growing louder.

"This way!" Lira grabbed Kael's arm and pulled him into the shadows, their footsteps silent against the cracked pavement. They moved quickly, weaving through the streets of District 0 until the Peacekeeper's shouts faded into the distance.

Finally, they stopped, crouched behind a crumbling wall. Kael's chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath, his mind still racing.

"What the hell was that?" Lira demanded, her voice low but sharp.

Kael shook his head. "I'll explain later. We need to get back to the safe house."

Lira nodded, though she still looked furious. "This isn't over, Kael."

"I know," Kael said, his voice grim. "It's only just beginning."

---